OGDEN, Utah - SUU senior defensive end James Cowser was unaninously named to the preseason Big Sky all-conference team as the defensive MVP.

Cowser, a senior from Fruit Heights, Utah, earned first-team all-conference and All-America honors at defensive end last year after setting a Big Sky single-season record with 28.5 tackles for loss. The former record of 28 was set by Idaho State standout and current NFL player Jared Allen. The Buck Buchanan Award candidate also registered 11.5 sacks, 85 total tackles and three forced fumbles.

Cowser was one of the five unanimous selections to the team, joining Northern Arizona fullback Nick Butier, EWU offensive tackle Clay DeBord, EWU wide receiver Cooper Kupp and NAU cornerback Marcus Alford. Both Butier and DeBord were first-team all-conference selections last season. Alford broke up 10 passes and came down with three interceptions last season for the Lumberjacks.

Cowser was joined by a pair of SUU defensive backs in corner LaShaun Sims and safety Miles Killebrew. Both second-team picks last year, Sims and Killebrew each broke up seven passes. Killebrew added three interceptions and was second in the league with four forced fumble

2015 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team 

Offensive MVP – Cooper Kupp, Jr., WR, Eastern Washington
Defensive MVP – James Cowser, Sr., DE, Southern Utah

OFFENSE
Pos. Player Year Hometown School
QB Dakota Prukop Jr. Austin, Texas Montana State
RB #Xavier Finney Sr. Oceanside, Calif. Idaho State
RB Kori Garcia Jr. Los Angeles, Calif. Cal Poly
FB *#Nick Butier Sr. San Luis Obispo, Calif Northern Arizona
TE R.J. Rickert Sr. Gilbert, Ariz. Northern Arizona
OG #JP Flynn Jr. Bettendorf, Iowa Montana State
OG #Aaron Neary Sr. Richland, Wash. Eastern Washington
C Christian Diehm Sr. Carson, Calif. Idaho State
OT *Clay DeBord Sr. Asotin, Wash. Eastern Washington
OT John Weidenaar Sr. Manhattan, Mont. Montana State  
WR *#Cooper Kupp Jr. Yakima, Wash. Eastern Washington
WR #Madison Mangum Jr. Boise, Idaho Idaho State  
WR Nnamdi Agude Sr. Corona, Calif. Sacramento State
WR Jamaal Jones Sr. Spanaway, Wash. Montana
PK #Brad Cornish Sr. Santee, Calif. Sacramento State
Returns Ellis Henderson Jr. Vancouver, Wash. Montana

DEFENSE
Pos. Player Year Hometown School
DE *#James Cowser Sr. Fruit Heights, Utah Southern Utah
DE Samson Ebukam Jr. Portland, Ore. Eastern Washington
DT Tyler Kuder Sr. Payette, Idaho Idaho State
DT Taylor Sheridan Sr. Littleton, Colo. Montana State
OLB Mario Jenkins So. Nampa, Idaho Idaho State
OLB Kendrick Van Ackeren Sr. Bellevue, Wash. Montana
ILB Darnell Sankey Sr. San Jose, Calif. Sacramento State
ILB Jeremiah Kose Sr. Oceanside, Calif. Montana
CB *#Marcus Alford Sr. Oxnard, Calif. Northern Arizona
CB LeShaun Sims Sr. Las Vegas, Nev. Southern Utah
S Taison Manu Sr. Pocatello, Idaho Idaho State
S Miles Killebrew Sr. Henderson, Nev. Southern Utah
P Ryan Hawkins Sr. Peoria, Ariz. Northern Arizona
Special Teams – Chad Newell Jr. Billings, Mont. Montana State  

*Unanimous selection
#2014 First Team All-Conferencend finished fourth in the league in scoring.